Colleges provide students more than a diploma, they provide them the opportunity to refine their skills to be able to get a job upon graduation. Here are 8 essential skills every employer looks for in new graduates.

To say the job market is tough (and intimidating) would be an understatement. Regardless of your industry and experience, when you first graduate you’re stepping onto new turf that you haven’t yet mastered. Naturally, the best thing a recent grad could hope for is a little bit of insight into what skills employers look for in recent graduates specifically.

Amy Howell, co-author of the newly released book The Future Belongs to Students in High Gear explains, “Millennials need every advantage they can get as they transition from the classroom to the career. Skills such as building a successful digital footprint, learning to take advantage of the resources available at each college and university and knowing how to network in the business community are all important to success.”

Based on my experience in hiring new graduates I have compiled 8 essential skills that a variety of employers all look for when looking at a recent grad’s resume, experience, and when meeting him/her in person. Of course this will not be perfect for every situation, but it’s a good start. Consider the skills below:

Face-to-Face communication skills.

In such a digital age face-to-face communication skills may not seem overly necessary, but they are when it comes to interviewing and making a good impression. Regardless if your position requires you to be good with people, it’s important to have at least some in-person communication skills should the occasion arise where you have to talk to a client or customer, not to mention the day-to-day happenings in an office. This helps show you’re confident, smart, personable, and more than likely easy to work with.

Keep in mind that this is also a skill that more and more recent grads are lacking in 2015, so something this simple can also set a candidate (you) apart from the rest.

Ability to work with others well and complete team projects.

This skill also goes back to the idea that new recent grads are becoming disconnected, so it’s important to be able to work well with others. This skill will be important to the success of company projects as well as the culture of the company as a whole.

An understanding of how certain skills will transfer into real-world settings.

Having a well-rounded resume is great, but it isn’t going to mean much if the graduate can’t understand how his/her skills will transfer into real-world settings. In other words, it’s important that a candidate shows what they can bring to the table, and this means understanding where his/her skills come into play for that specific company.

Relevant work experience and past leadership roles.

Plain and simple, if you have held a leadership position in the past it shows that you are a self-starter and that you can handle making decisions (both skills on this list). According to a National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) study, “when employees are forced to choose between two equally qualified candidates, they will choose the one with experience in a leadership position over the other.”

Being able to offer a fresh perspective with creativity and innovation.

This is one of the things that recent grads do well and employers want to see. Part of hiring someone new (recent grad or not) is bringing in someone with new ideas about how the company can grow. This is also a good opportunity for a candidate to show what they know about the company and the research they’ve done, both of which are things employers expect from any candidate regardless of experience.

Self-motivation.

This point piggybacks on the last point because if you can show creativity and innovation, chances are you’re a self-motivated person. This skill is something important to employers because it ensures that they won’t need to walk the new employee through every little decision every step of the way, not to mention it shows that the new employee is interested in growth. As an employer you want someone who can take the reigns so that you have more time on your hands, so self-motivation is crucial.

Express ethical judgment and decision-making.

A CBS News article cited a study by the Association of American Colleges & Universities that found that 81% of employers marked this as top on their list of important skills for recent grads (even as more important than point number 3 above). Ethics has always been a big part of running a successful company, yet this isn’t something that many people think about when they go in for an interview–especially recent grads. Nonetheless, it’s important to be able to exhibit ethical judgment and decision-making. It not only shows that the candidate can be trusted, but it shows general intelligence.

A high GPA.

Okay so you might be thinking, “that isn’t a skill.” Nevertheless, it’s worth putting on the list because it is a characteristic that comes more into play for recent graduates. According to a USA Today College article, 91% of employers value interview performance more than GPA in their ultimate hiring decision, so there is no need to panic.

However, 43% of companies also have a formal GPA threshold, and this number jumps to 63% when looking at larger companies. In other words, a high GPA is something employers look for in a new grad to get the interview, which as we all know is the next step to showing off all of the other skills on this list.

In addition to student voices from The University of Memphis, Penn State, Belmont University, Mississippi State, Texas Christian University, Messiah College, and Rhodes College, several University presidents contributed: Dr. Eric Barron, president of Penn State University; Dr. Bob Fisher, president of Belmont University; Dr. M. David Rudd, president of The University of Memphis; Dr. Karen Scolforo, president of Central Penn College; and Dr. John “Ski” Sygielski, president of Harrisburg Area Community College.

Some of the chapter headings for The Future Belongs to Students in High Gear reflect its highly practical approach to its subject:

* Your Digital Footprint Starts Early
* The Road to College
* High Gear High School
* Your Father’s Resume Is Dead
* DNA, Drive, and Your Potential
* The Importance of Debt Control and Understanding Financials
* Curriculum and Careers Are Different
* Dot-Connecting and Why You Must Master It
* High Gear Professors and How to Connect with Them
* Advice from 35 Years of Business Ownership
* Workbook: Your Goal-Setting Guide

In its positive review of the book, Forbes wrote:

“With astronomically high college costs, Millennials and their parents want to ensure that the financial and time investment they make realizes its full potential. Forbes, TIME, The Economist, Gallup, and others regularly ask the question, ‘Is college worth it?’ Amy Howell and Anne Deeter Gallaher are entrepreneurs and mothers of college-age kids who wrote ‘Students in High Gear: A Guide for Aspiring Game Changers in Transition’ to ensure that today’s 21 million U.S. college students get the most from this pivotal investment.”

PR Web wrote:

“‘Students in High Gear’ is packed with powerful insights from every stakeholder in the skills gap and college life conversation. If a college education is the great equalizer, then preparing higher education students to shorten their learning curve from college to career is paramount for U.S. economic competitiveness. ‘Economically active and in high gear are where ‘changing your stars takes place,’ said Deeter Gallaher and Howell, both business owners of public relations firms.

“‘Students in High Gear’ is also an antidote to the alarming rate of college loan delinquencies. With The Wall Street Journal reporting nearly 7 million people have defaulted on their federal student loans, this presents a crushing debt problem for graduates with severe consequences on the U.S. economy, borrowers’ credit, and earning potential. Chapter 7 highlights ‘The Importance of Debt Control and Understanding Financials’ which helps prepare students to make intelligent borrowing and spending decisions.”

“There is much to love about this book. It is so practical and useful for a generation of students who are subject to cataclysmic changes in both the workforce and the nature of work life,” says Mark W. Schaefer, professor at Rutgers University, author, consultant, and social media marketing speaker. “As an educator myself, I am relieved to see the authors take a serious, entertaining, and inspirational look at these dynamics.”

“This 13-chapter, 178-page resource complete with goal-setting guide is a call to arms for big ideas, passionate workers, and an energized economy,’ said Deeter Gallaher and Howell. ‘And it demonstrates the unbridled capabilities of collaboration between students, colleges, and the business community.’”

With astronomically high college costs, Millennials and their parents want to ensure that the financial and time investment they make realizes its full potential. Forbes, TIME, The Economist, Gallup and others regularly ask the question, “Is college worth it?” Amy Howell and Anne Deeter Gallaher are entrepreneurs and mothers of college-age kids who wrote “Students in High Gear: A Guide for Aspiring Game Changers in Transition” to ensure that today’s 21 million U.S. college students get the most from this pivotal investment.

Unfortunately, millions are defaulting on student loans after graduating with crushing debt loads. These grads describe what it’s like to default on student loans. No one wants to end up in that spot. It can not only foul up the student’s future, it can also negatively impact their parent’s credit rating. “Students in High Gear” has a chapter devoted to this topic — “The Importance of Debt Control and Understanding Financials” — designed to help students make wise borrowing decisions. Indirectly, Howell and Deeter Gallaher provide the counterpunch to the wallop of college debt by delivering tips designed to set college students on a great path so they steer away from unmanageable student loans.

“Books such as ‘Students in High Gear’ provide a first-hand account of what it takes to conquer the college landscape, and this book will act as an experiential multiplier to assist students in realizing their goals for success. When students share their testimonials and insights as to what nurtured their path to triumph, there could not be a better playbook,” — Dr. Bob Akin, professor, Texas Christian University.

Throughout the book, the authors share perspectives from students, parents, employers, professors, University presidents, and their own personal experiences. Students entering college today will most likely have jobs that haven’t even been created. Just 10 years ago, it would have been hard to understand what being a “Social Media Manager” would mean. Today, there are millions of individuals with that job title and being adept at social media is spilling into virtually every professional discipline right up to CEOs. The authors provide timeless guidance that transcends career choices and new technologies.

“Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.” – John Wooden, Former NBA Player and UCLA Head Coach

“Students in High Gear” is chock full of practical tips on how to address these gaps. The following are chapter titles from the book:

Your Digital Footprint Starts Early

The Road to College: High Gear High School

Your Father’s Resume Is Dead

DNA, Drive, and Your Potential

The Importance of Debt Control and Understanding Financials

Curriculum and Careers Are Different

Dot-Connecting and Why You Must Master It

High Gear Professors and How to Connect with Them

Advice from 35 Years of Business Ownership

Workbook: Your Goal-Setting Guide

Even if your kids are just entering high school, Students in High Gear is a great read for both students and parents to start thinking about the future and how choices today can lay the foundation for success in the future. Universities would be wise to make the book mandatory reading for all incoming freshman. I no longer have to struggle to find a high school graduation gift — Students in High Gear is the best gift you can give a high school grad. Unlike most gifts that high school grads will forget a week later, I expect they’ll have Students in High Gear on their bookshelf throughout college.

Entrepreneurs and co-authors Amy D. Howell and Anne Deeter Gallaher launch their second book, “Students in High Gear: A Guide for Aspiring Game Changers in Transition” from College to Careeras a practical guide for today’s 21 million U.S. college students.

“Students in High Gear” is packed with powerful insights from every stakeholder in the skills gap and college life conversation. If a college education is the great equalizer, then preparing higher education students to shorten their learning curve from college to career is paramount for U.S. economic competitiveness. “Economically active and in high gear are where ‘changing your stars’ takes place,” said Deeter Gallaher and Howell, both business owners of public relations firms.

“Students in High Gear” is also an antidote to the alarming rate of college loan delinquencies. With The Wall Street Journal reporting nearly 7 million people have defaulted on their federal student loans, this presents a crushing debt problem for graduates with severe consequences on the U.S. economy, borrowers’ credit, and earning potential. Chapter 7 highlights “The Importance of Debt Control and Understanding Financials” which helps prepare students to make intelligent borrowing and spending decisions.

College students form the foundation of the knowledge economy. Your choices, ambitions, and opportunities will determine career success and life purpose. In this small window of discovery, Howell and Deeter Gallaher define the path to high gear and weave powerful insights from students, professors, deans, University presidents, parents, and employers. Whether you’re a senior in high school considering the value of a college investment, a recent graduate navigating the interview process, or a professor wanting to imbue high gear employable skills, “Students in High Gear” is fuel for success.

“There is much to love about this book. It is so practical and useful for a generation of students who are subject to cataclysmic changes in both the workforce and the nature of work life,” says Mark W. Schaefer, professor at Rutgers University, author, consultant, and social media marketing speaker. “As an educator myself, I am relieved to see the authors take a serious, entertaining, and inspirational look at these dynamics.”

“This 13-chapter, 178-page resource complete with goal-setting guide is a call to arms for big ideas, passionate workers, and an energized economy,” said Deeter Gallaher and Howell. “And it demonstrates the unbridled capabilities of collaboration between students, colleges, and the business community.”

In addition to student voices from The University of Memphis, Penn State, Belmont University, Mississippi State, Texas Christian University, Messiah College, and Rhodes College, several University presidents contributed: Dr. Eric Barron, president of Penn State University; Dr. Bob Fisher, president of Belmont University; Dr. M. David Rudd, president of The University of Memphis; Dr. Karen Scolforo, president of Central Penn College; and Dr. John “Ski” Sygielski, president of Harrisburg Area Community College.

“Books such as ‘Students in High Gear’ provide a first-hand account of what it takes to conquer the college landscape, and this book will act as an experiential multiplier to assist students in realizing their goals for success. When students share their testimonials and insights as to what nurtured their path to triumph, there could not be a better playbook,” says Dr. Bob Akin, professor, Texas Christian University.

Follow the conversation on Twitter at @StudentsInHG using the hashtag #SiHG.

Amy D. Howell is CEO of Howell Marketing Strategies, a public relations and marketing firm headquartered in Memphis, TN. Anne Deeter Gallaher is CEO of Deeter Gallaher Group LLC, a public relations and marketing firm with offices in Harrisburg, PA and Nashville, TN.